We really don't think about it here in the US because we have a relatively good measure of "free speech" compared to the UK, but if push comes to shove and we lose that, would we have anything available which is comparable to Hyde Park Speaker's Corner? In other words, a location allowed by the State to show that we DO INDEED have free speech.
I am attracted to the idea of a public "soapbox" where anyone can get up and say anything at all and there would be no official repercussions. Perhaps we should consider the possibility of these cropping up in localities all over the map, especially if the Internet is shut down for any reason.
I like it! Of course, I don't like the "allowed by the state part" in the sense of the implication that it's disallowed or frowned upon elsewhere, like the little free speech corner I saw at the trailhead to Mt. Tamalpais in San Francisco. But the idea of an organically created speaker's corner in every city and town across the land sounds really cool. How to do it? Just pick a popular spot in town, step up on your plastic milk crate ("I have the conch!") and start talking- across from the fountain in the park or at the corner of 3rd and Elm at the end of the farmer's market block, etc. Speaker's corner Hamilton; speaker's corner Missoula; SC Seattle; SC Walla Walla; SC Bugscuffle, Tennessee.
Interesting! Good work, Dan.
We really don't think about it here in the US because we have a relatively good measure of "free speech" compared to the UK, but if push comes to shove and we lose that, would we have anything available which is comparable to Hyde Park Speaker's Corner? In other words, a location allowed by the State to show that we DO INDEED have free speech.
I am attracted to the idea of a public "soapbox" where anyone can get up and say anything at all and there would be no official repercussions. Perhaps we should consider the possibility of these cropping up in localities all over the map, especially if the Internet is shut down for any reason.
I like it! Of course, I don't like the "allowed by the state part" in the sense of the implication that it's disallowed or frowned upon elsewhere, like the little free speech corner I saw at the trailhead to Mt. Tamalpais in San Francisco. But the idea of an organically created speaker's corner in every city and town across the land sounds really cool. How to do it? Just pick a popular spot in town, step up on your plastic milk crate ("I have the conch!") and start talking- across from the fountain in the park or at the corner of 3rd and Elm at the end of the farmer's market block, etc. Speaker's corner Hamilton; speaker's corner Missoula; SC Seattle; SC Walla Walla; SC Bugscuffle, Tennessee.